TI. PECTINASE, THE CYTOLYTIC ENZYM PRODUCED 
BY BACILLUS CAROTOVORUS AND CERTAIN 
OTHER SOFT-ROT ORGANISMS} 
L. R. JONES. 
INTRODUCTION. 
Two of our earlier publications (1900, 1901) have given 
detailed accounts of a bacterial soft rot of carrot and other 
vegetables due to the organism, Bacillus carotovorus. In the 
first of these articles it is stated (1901 :304,312)? that “ micro- 
scopic examination of the decaying carrot tissues has shown 
that the organism invades the intercellular spaces, and multi- 
plies there with enormous rapidity. The middle lamellae of 
the adjacent cells appear to be soft- 
ened or destroyed by the secretions of 
the bacteria, since isolation of the 
cells in invaded tissue occurs, but the 
bacteria have not been observed in 
the interior of the cells of the re- 
cently disorganized tissues. ........ 
This (action on the middle lamella) 
is probably due to an enzym of the 
nature of cytase excreted by the bac- 
terial sea oie 2 Oa ee 
It seems probable that the further 
study of the bacteria concerned with 
Fic. 1. Carrot-roor the soft rots of plants will swell the 
Sa EL oe pacts list to a considerable number of or- 
By B. carotovorus. ganisms which resemble the above and 
ie (fotonlasm is: bits each other‘more or less closely in their 
confined to the intercel- physiological characters.” : 
ee ordi Byarian rie te It appears, therefore, that a fuller 
rupture, as in the upper understanding of the _ cell-wiall-dis- 
left-hand cell. solving or other enzyms produced by 
such bacteria is desirable for two practical reasons: First, 
‘The laboratory studies upon the enzym here discussed were made during 
the years 1901-04, and this manuscript was prepared at their completion 
in 1904. Owing to the plan of co-operation, as explained in Part I, this 
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